Clefts and Jaw Sx. In cleft patients, it is common for the maxilla to fail to develop along normal growth patterns, a lot of this has to do with scarring from previous surgeries. In order to correct for this underdevelopment of the upper jaw, orthognathic surgery is performed. Typically, the upper jaw is advanced forward, and because it is a bilateral cleft, it will be technically be a three-piece segmental LeFort.

Aligned teeth . Orthognathic surgery generally refers to procedures that attempt to get your teeth in alignment to achieve a normall occlusion. When it comes to clefts this typically involves surgery to advance the upper teeth forward.
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Teenage possibly. Because maxillary growth is impaired secondary to cleft repair a lefort i advancement which releases the retracted midface bones and pulls them forwards is often done once a child's face has reached skeletal maturity.
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Alignment. This surgery is used to correct the growth disturbance in the uuper jaw caused by the original clefts. It is performed in the teens to early twenties depending on the situation. Repair of all the clefts has been done previously during the critical times of development. This will allow alignment of the teeth and jaws. The surgery allows proper function and esthetics.
Read more...

Clefts and Jaw Sx. In cleft patients, it is common for the maxilla to fail to develop along normal growth patterns, a lot of this has to do with scarring from previous surgeries. In order to correct for this underdevelopment of the upper jaw, orthognathic surgery is performed. Typically, the upper jaw is advanced forward, and because it is a bilateral cleft, it will technically be a three-piece segmental LeFort.
Read more...

Bone grafting. Typically these procedures involve a lot of bone grafting, often enough that it has to be completed in multiple surgeries. Block grafts of bone are typically held in place by screws and plates to stabilize them during the healing phase.
Read more...

Many surgeries . This surgery can include repair of the lip and nose by clipping then sewing the tissues together in the first 6 months of life. The palate (roof of mouth) repair around 12-18 months of age involves sewing the two sides together. A repair of a cleft in the gumline may involve adding bone and orthodontics (braces) usually 9-12 years old.
Read more...

Clefts and Jaw Sx. In cleft patients, it is common for the maxilla to fail to develop along normal growth patterns, a lot of this has to do with scarring from previous surgeries. In order to correct for this underdevelopment of the upper jaw, orthognathic surgery is performed. Typically, the upper jaw is advanced forward, and because it is a bilateral cleft, it will technically be a three-piece segmental LeFort.
Read more...

Cleft . Cleft lip and palate treatment consists of multiple staged operations that will occur over the life of your child as he/she reaches different developmental landmarks. Most typically, the cleft lip is repaired first and allowed to heal before proceeding to repair of the cleft palate. Because your child is older than the typical ages of repair of the cleft lip (3 months old) and palate (8-10 months old), some surgeons may decide to do more than one procedure in a single stage. This will depend on the experience and preferences of your surgeon, as well as considerations of your child's general health.
Because repair of cleft lip and palate is an involved process involving multiple stages over the lifetime of your child, my strongest recommendation is to connect with an experienced craniofacial surgical center with an integrated, team approach. Excellent outcomes can be achieved when a child has integrated care from plastic surgeons, otolaryngologists, speech therapists, orthodontists, dentists, and social services coordinators. My own craniofacial surgery training was at stanford university, and i can personally recommend the stanford/ lucille packard cleft and craniofacial team to you as an excellent team. There are also other centers near you which have very good craniofacial programs.
Please arrange to have your child evaluated by an experienced craniofacial team in order to get the best answers to your questions.
All the best to you,
dr. Skourtis.
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Visit with a surgeon. The best answers can be obtained from the office of the surgeon who performs these surgeries. They can help you to anticipate what life would be like following surgery. They also understand the severity of this condition in your child.
Read more...

All . All surgery leaves scars.The quality and the location of the scar is the important factor(assuming excellent tech)it is very important to investigate your surgeons training & reputation.
.
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Possible. The technology today in cleft lip and palate reconstruction is very good. The scarring is usually minimal and not noticeable. Many famous people you've seen on tv have had cleft lip surgery and you don't even know it. I wouldn't worry about the scarring; the most important thing is restoring form and function to your child's mouth.
Read more...

Yes and no. The first surgery is for gross closure and much of it's cosmetic success is depending upon what the surgeon has to work with. There will be many opportunites for revision of the scar as the child grows and the end result should be fine. The first surgery puts you in the ballpark. The seats are arranged later.
Read more...

VARIED. Surgical results are often varied--dependent primarily upon the severity of the defect being corrected. The surgical team of specialists that care for your baby will be the best source of potential outcomes and risks. In general, the earlier the treatment, the better the potential results can be. Good luck.
Read more...

A few things. Pain, and the different feeling inside the mouth after cleft palate repair are the two biggest problems to be expected after cleft palate surgery. Cleft lip also adds a little more pain. The children also don't like the use of arm restraints, even though most of us surgeons use them after lip repair, and sometimes after palate repair.
Read more...

Aligned teeth . Orthognathic surgery generally refers to procedures that attempt to get your teeth in alignment to achieve a normall occlusion. When it comes to clefts this typically involves surgery to advance the upper teeth forward.
Read more...

Teenage possibly. Because maxillary growth is impaired secondary to cleft repair a lefort i advancement which releases the retracted midface bones and pulls them forwards is often done once a child's face has reached skeletal maturity.
Read more...

Alignment. This surgery is used to correct the growth disturbance in the uuper jaw caused by the original clefts. It is performed in the teens to early twenties depending on the situation. Repair of all the clefts has been done previously during the critical times of development. This will allow alignment of the teeth and jaws. The surgery allows proper function and esthetics.
Read more...

Clefts and Jaw Sx. In cleft patients, it is common for the maxilla to fail to develop along normal growth patterns, a lot of this has to do with scarring from previous surgeries. In order to correct for this underdevelopment of the upper jaw, orthognathic surgery is performed. Typically, the upper jaw is advanced forward, and because it is a bilateral cleft, it will technically be a three-piece segmental LeFort.
Read more...

Bone grafting. Typically these procedures involve a lot of bone grafting, often enough that it has to be completed in multiple surgeries. Block grafts of bone are typically held in place by screws and plates to stabilize them during the healing phase.
Read more...

Many surgeries . This surgery can include repair of the lip and nose by clipping then sewing the tissues together in the first 6 months of life. The palate (roof of mouth) repair around 12-18 months of age involves sewing the two sides together. A repair of a cleft in the gumline may involve adding bone and orthodontics (braces) usually 9-12 years old.
Read more...

Clefts and Jaw Sx. In cleft patients, it is common for the maxilla to fail to develop along normal growth patterns, a lot of this has to do with scarring from previous surgeries. In order to correct for this underdevelopment of the upper jaw, orthognathic surgery is performed. Typically, the upper jaw is advanced forward, and because it is a bilateral cleft, it will technically be a three-piece segmental LeFort.
Read more...

Cleft . Cleft lip and palate treatment consists of multiple staged operations that will occur over the life of your child as he/she reaches different developmental landmarks. Most typically, the cleft lip is repaired first and allowed to heal before proceeding to repair of the cleft palate. Because your child is older than the typical ages of repair of the cleft lip (3 months old) and palate (8-10 months old), some surgeons may decide to do more than one procedure in a single stage. This will depend on the experience and preferences of your surgeon, as well as considerations of your child's general health.
Because repair of cleft lip and palate is an involved process involving multiple stages over the lifetime of your child, my strongest recommendation is to connect with an experienced craniofacial surgical center with an integrated, team approach. Excellent outcomes can be achieved when a child has integrated care from plastic surgeons, otolaryngologists, speech therapists, orthodontists, dentists, and social services coordinators. My own craniofacial surgery training was at stanford university, and i can personally recommend the stanford/ lucille packard cleft and craniofacial team to you as an excellent team. There are also other centers near you which have very good craniofacial programs.
Please arrange to have your child evaluated by an experienced craniofacial team in order to get the best answers to your questions.
All the best to you,
dr. Skourtis.
Read more...

Visit with a surgeon. The best answers can be obtained from the office of the surgeon who performs these surgeries. They can help you to anticipate what life would be like following surgery. They also understand the severity of this condition in your child.
Read more...

All . All surgery leaves scars.The quality and the location of the scar is the important factor(assuming excellent tech)it is very important to investigate your surgeons training & reputation.
.
Read more...

Possible. The technology today in cleft lip and palate reconstruction is very good. The scarring is usually minimal and not noticeable. Many famous people you've seen on tv have had cleft lip surgery and you don't even know it. I wouldn't worry about the scarring; the most important thing is restoring form and function to your child's mouth.
Read more...

Yes and no. The first surgery is for gross closure and much of it's cosmetic success is depending upon what the surgeon has to work with. There will be many opportunites for revision of the scar as the child grows and the end result should be fine. The first surgery puts you in the ballpark. The seats are arranged later.
Read more...

VARIED. Surgical results are often varied--dependent primarily upon the severity of the defect being corrected. The surgical team of specialists that care for your baby will be the best source of potential outcomes and risks. In general, the earlier the treatment, the better the potential results can be. Good luck.
Read more...

A few things. Pain, and the different feeling inside the mouth after cleft palate repair are the two biggest problems to be expected after cleft palate surgery. Cleft lip also adds a little more pain. The children also don't like the use of arm restraints, even though most of us surgeons use them after lip repair, and sometimes after palate repair.
Read more...